A NEW service to help police crack crime through forensic investigation has been launched by Oxfordshire scientists, writes David Duffy.

The Forensic Alliance, aiming to help police find and analyse vital evidence, has been set up by Harwell-based AEA Technology, Cellmark Diagnostics, of Abingdon, and science consultancy Forensic Access.

The group has expertise in all the main forensic methods, including DNA testing, chemistry, drugs, biology and toxicology.

Operations director Dr Angela Gallop said it could investigate almost every kind of crime from murder and rape to counterfeiting, criminal damage and fraud.

She said: "Our laboratory is a formidable resource for investigators, putting forensic science back at the top of the list. The police have a tough job to do and we can provide them with all the scientific support they need."

Two years ago AEA Technology provided analytical support in the hunt for the killer of French tourist Celine Figard who was abducted at an M4 service area at Chieveley, near Newbury, and murdered.

The group has brought together a team of forensic scientists at the Culham Science Centre, almost all former Forensic Science Service or Metropolitan Police scientists.

A £1.37m contract to help monitor air quality has been awarded to AEA Technology by the Government. The company will check data from more than 60 monitoring stations across Britain, which measure levels of potentially harmful pollutants.

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